The photo is sourced from glamox.com
The ferry was designed by the LMG Marin engineering company and constructed by the Westcon shipyard. Hydrogen will be supplied by Germany’s Linde, which will produce H2 at the Leuna chemical complex in Germany with the help of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser. Units of this type use solid polymer electrolyte to produce hydrogen. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), they accounted for 25% of the capacity of all electrolysers operating worldwide in 2021, with 70% represented by alkaline units, which use a liquid electrolyte solution and 5% by all other types of units, including solid oxide electrolysers employing thermal energy and electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen at a temperature over 1,000 degrees Celsius.
The vessel can travel at a speed of up to 9 knots (16.7 km/h) with the help of two fuel cells with a power capacity of 200 kilowatts (kW) each, which will transform the chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity. The ferry is also equipped with a hydrogen storage, which has the capacity of 80 m3 and two 440 kW generators that will supply power to the maneuvering thrusters. After the launch, the vessel will produce 95% fewer specific carbon dioxide emissions than ships powered by fuel oil.
The launch of MF Hydra’s commercial operation will pave the way for the use of fuel cells in maritime transport where an increasing number of alternatives to fuel oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are emerging. For instance, this year the Dutch shipyard of Next Generation Shipyards commenced the construction of the Neo Orbis vessel, which will be powered by hydrogen produced by mixing solid salt – sodium borohydride (NaBH4) – with pure water and a catalyst. The 20-metre-long vessel will be used for cruises between the port of Amsterdam, the city’s historic centre and the North Sea Canal of the Netherlands.
